The Spectator, Volumes 1, 2 and 3 eBook

’That insufferable Prude Mrs. Mohair,
who has told such Stories of the Company here, is
with Child, for all her nice Airs and her crooked
Legs. Pray be sure to put her in for both those
two Things, and you’ll oblige every Body here,
especially

Your humble Servant,

Alice Bluegarter.’

T.

* * * *
*

No. 497. Tuesday, September 30,
1712. Steele.

[Greek: Houtos esti galeotaes geron.]—­Menander.

A favour well bestow’d, is almost as great an
Honour to him who confers it, as to him who receives
it. What indeed makes for the superior Reputation
of the Patron in this case, is, that he is always surrounded
with specious Pretences of unworthy Candidates, and
is often alone in the kind Inclination he has towards
the Well-deserving. Justice is the first Quality
in the Man who is in a Post of Direction; and I remember
to have heard an old Gentleman talk of the Civil Wars,
and in his Relation give an Account of a General Officer,
who with this one Quality, without any shining Endowments,
became so peculiarly beloved and honoured, that all
Decisions between Man and Man were laid before him
by the Parties concerned in a private Way; and they
would lay by their Animosities implicitly, if he bid
them be Friends, or submit themselves in the Wrong
without Reluctance, if he said it, without waiting
the Judgment of Court-Martials. His Manner was
to keep the Dates of all Commissions in his Closet,
and wholly dismiss from the Service such who were
deficient in their Duty; and after that, took Care
to prefer according to the Order of Battel. His
Familiars were his entire Friends, and could have
no interested Views in courting his Acquaintance;
for his Affection was no Step to their Preferment,
tho’ it was to their Reputation. By this
means a kind Aspect, a Salutation, a Smile, and giving
out his Hand, had the weight of what is esteem’d
by vulgar Minds more substantial. His Business
was very short, and he who had nothing to do but Justice,
was never affronted with a Request of a familiar daily
Visitant for what was due to a brave Man at a Distance.
Extraordinary Merit he used to recommend to the King
for some Distinction at home, till the Order of Battel
made way for his rising in the Troops. Add to
this, that he had an excellent Manner of getting rid
of such whom he observed were good at an Halt,
as his Phrase was. Under this Description he
comprehended all those who were contented to live
without Reproach, and had no Promptitude in their Minds
towards Glory. These Fellows were also recommended
to the King, and taken off of the General’s
hands into Posts wherein Diligence and common Honesty
were all that were necessary. This General had
no weak Part in his Line; but every Man had as much